Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to
a) understand the social and cultural context of the New Testament times;
b) recognize the processes of creating the gospel value code,
c) critically approach the contribution of the New Testament to the evolution of Christian cultural values until now.
Course Content (Syllabus)
Content:
With the help of social science tools, such as cultural anthropology, social psychology, and sociolinguistics, the social structures and cultural values of the people and societies of the New Testament, are examined. Useful scientific models are presented for understanding the main elements of status, behavior, and morality that were in force at that time and for understanding the interaction of these elements with the evangelical values proclaimed by the apostles. Along with the literary critique of the New Testament, with its historical and theological study, an additional hermeneutical dimension is offered, which lacks them, i.e., the cultural examination. Examples and application exercises are provided in New Testament texts for the consolidation of new knowledge.
Teaching units:
1) Cultural reading of the New Testament: definitions and methods.
2) The perspective of the Mediterranean culture on the New Testament study.
3) Models of cultural anthropology and the New Testament world.
4) Pivotal principles: honor and shame.
5) The makeup of personality: individual and group
6) Perception of the use of material goods and financial management.
7) Envy and the evil eye.
8) Marriage and family relationships.
9) Sacred and profane. Clean and unclean.
10) Social organization and nets.
11) Human and nature: ecological relationships.
12) The theological view of the findings.
13) Presentation of studies and works of the relevant literature.
Keywords
New Testament, Mediterranean culture, Christian culture, Hermeneutics
Additional bibliography for study
1. Σ. Αγουρίδη, Χριστιανισμός και Πολιτισμός, Αθήνα 1958.
2. Ι. Πέτρου, «Η Βίβλος ως ιερό και πολιτισμικό κείμενο. Κοινωνιολογική θεώρηση», Θείος Λόγος Λόγος Τέχνης, Διακείμενα 6 (2004), 13-22.
3. Θ. Ιωαννίδη, «Η Καινή Διαθήκη ως πολιτισμικό κείμενο (Σημεία βιβλικής και πολιτισμικής ανθρωπολογίας)», H διαχρονική αξία της Aγίας Γραφής. Πρακτικά 2ης Eπιστημονικής Συνάντησης Θεολόγων Γ΄ Δ/νσης Aθηνών, Δυτικής Aττικής (14 Mαρτίου 2006), Aθήνα 2007, 19-42.
4. Ι. Καραβιδοπούλου, «Πολιτισμική ανθρωπολογία και Αγία Γραφή», Δελτίο Βιβλικών Μελετών 26 (2008), 29-39.
5. MEEKS, WAYNE A., The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.
6. PILCH, JOHN J. and MALINA, BRUCE J. (εκδ.), Biblical Social Values and Their Meanings: A Handbook. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson. 1993.
7. Malina, B. The New Testament World. Insights from Cultural Anthropology, Louisville-Centucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 32001.